Welcome to the world of youth sports through the witty and wise eyes of Cheryl and Jenn! Courtside Conversations invites you to the sideline where we unravel effective strategies, parenting wins, and team triumphs all in one slam-dunk podcast. Enjoy inspired discussions with guests, breathe in the casual funnies of relating with other parents of youth in activities, and feel the backbone of community support push you into the front of the court.
Chris Ryan @chrisryanfitness is a performance coach, entrepreneur, and father of three with over 15 years in the fitness industry. He has appeared on NBC’s STRONG, trained thousands of clients, and founded the Chris Ryan Fitness app focused on efficient strength and performance training for busy adults. As both a coach and sports parent, Chris speaks on how youth sports can build confidence, resilience, and lifelong health habits for kids while helping parents navigate the pressures of modern youth athletics. Other fun facts about Chris:
*Division 1 collegiate athlete
*Founding trainer for MIRROR/lululemon Studio
*Recognized as one of America's Top 10 Trainers
*Featured in Men's Health, Women's Health, Men's Fitness, Shape, GQ, Men's Journal, Muscle & Fitness, Golf Digest, Reader's Digest & other influential publications
*Represented premier fitness brands such as lululemon, Nike, UnderArmour, Everlast, Polo Ralph Lauren, Adidas & Polar
Chris is positive, inspirational, fun and has an infectious smile!
14 Mar 2026
Meet Assistant Coach James & Player Nathan Charles of the KW Titans
Tune in with our special guests of the KW Titans - Assistant Coach James Robinson and player Nathan Charles. Listen to their valuable insight, journey and what has helped them achieve their goals and what it really takes to succeed in a high-level program from both the Coach & Player perspective.
1 Mar 2026
“Are You the Player Coaches Want on Their Bus?” 2026-02-08, 3:42:38 PM
What separates the athletes who make it , from the ones who fade out?
In this powerful episode, legendary voices deliver a message every young athlete and parent needs to hear.
Coach K shares the life changing advice his mother gave him at 14:
"Make sure you get on the right but." a lesion about choosing the people , habits, and environments that shape your future.
Nick Sabin explains what coaches actually look for when deciding who gets a seat on their team and its not just talent!
Adam Sandler's character in Hustle asks the question that cuts deeper than stats or rankings: Do you play for attention ... or for the love of the game?
And Jimmy Butler closes with a raw reminder of the relentless drive, sacrifice, and passion required to complete at the highest level.
Together, these moments reveal a truth many athletes learn too late:
Talent opens the door
character keeps you in the room
Passion determines how far you go
For parents, this episode offers clarity about what truly matters beyond trophies and rankings.
For players, its a challenge to decide right now what kind of teammate , competitor, and person you want to become.
Because long before scholarships, championships, or highlights...
Your Choose your but.
You choose your mindset.
You choose your path
If your serious about growth on the court and in life don't miss this episode
10 Feb 2026
Training Smart with Drew
In this episode we're joined by personal trainer Drew from Divide Fitness to talk about what youth athletes really need to do to get stronger, faster and more confident without overtraining or risking injury.
Drew breaks down age-appropriate strength training, common mistakes parents and players make and how smart training builds both physical ability and mental confidence.
We also discuss recovery, injury prevention and how parents can best support their athlete's development.
A must listen for parents, players and coaches focused on long- term growth and performance.
4 Feb 2026
From Pressure to Power, Let's Get Mentally Strong
Mental toughness isn't about being emotionless, its about staying locked in. In this episode we break down what it truly means to be mentally strong, using real advice and insights from Imad Qahwash, Jason Tatum and many others. This episode was created for the parent, and the player so grab your youth and settle in courtside.
11 Jan 2026
So… Your Kid Plays How Many Sports?
Hosts Jenn and Cheryl discuss the benefits of avoiding early sport specialization for children with guest Tyler, a father managing his kids' busy sports schedules.
11 Jan 2026
Tournoment Season and Injury Support 101
Michelle from Active Physio discusses sports injuries, recovery strategies, and the crucial role parents play in supporting young athletes during intense summer tournaments in an interview.
16 Jul 2025
You Can't Have A Game Without A Ref... 4/23/2025, 1:40:39 AM
Baseball coach interviews Mark, a seasoned referee, about the misunderstood but essential role of referees in youth sports and how parents can support a positive game environment.
13 Jun 2025
Lullaby and Goodnight 5/12/2025, 10:55:31 AM
This episode explores three simple tips for increasing children's overall wellbeing and athletic performance, benefiting both young athletes and their parents.
25 May 2025
Nutrition Questions 101 Is Candy Ok?
Dietitians Kelsey Poulter and Jessica, the sports RD, answer kids' nutrition questions about hydration, lunch packing, and whether candy is acceptable, offering helpful information for both parents and children in this interview.
13 May 2025
Celebrating Moms & Exploring Hot Topics 5/12/2025, 11:08:02 AM
From celebrating Moms to highlighting youth sport hot topics this episode has something for everyone. Listen as Jen and Cheryl dive into some reddit posts and get some feedback from our courtside crew on top youth sport issues such as: drinking at youth sporting events, family vacations planning vs Youth Sports and is Youth Sports becoming more about the money then the kids. All of this and more in this weeks episode. Plus a special Mom shout out from the NBA players and Jen and Cheryl. Trust us you wont want to miss this one.
27 Apr 2025
Getting Up Close And Personal, The Player Perspective
The reason behind our crazy sport parents lives. Meet our boys who have dropped in today to help us elevate our parenting games. From shoes and courtside gear to the pressures of being a youth athlete, they share it all. Want to know what snacks you should stock up on, how your cheering effects them? or even their advice for players new to the sport, its all jam packed into episode number 3.
We dedicate this episode to all the players out there. May you laugh, learn and grow during your next season. Special thank you to our players Joshua and Noah for supporting us on our podcast journey.
18 Apr 2025
When A Team Becomes A Family...
Meet our basketball family as we invite them to a roundtable discussion about youth parenting in rep basketball. Listen as they share valuable experiences from on and off the court. All members are key in this episode as we chat with parents and siblings to bring you a broad perspective on the positive take aways. Get tips on what is the most important thing to take to a game, hear words of wisdom and even their favorite cheers. You won't want to miss out on this one!
10 Apr 2025
Elevating Your Parenting Game 4/5/2025, 2:08:29 AM
Are you ready to elevate your parenting game... Join us for our very first episode of Courtside Conversations. In this episode we will dive into the world of youth sports. Our special guest Imad Qahwash will be joining us to share how his parents and family impacted his career which included playing professional basketball. His impact to youth sports in Canada has greatly influenced youth and parents as his hope is to use his journey to support others. Jump into advice for parents and share the heartfelt moments of being a youth sport parent with us.
This episode is dedicated to our sons Joshua and Noah. We love watching you chase your dreams. We will always be your biggest cheerleaders.
Love your basketball moms
1 Apr 2025
Trailer Courtside Conversations
Join us as we dive into the highs and lows of youth sports, unwrapping effective strategies and sharing the laughter of parenting triumphs-even amidst the pressures of games day. Designed for parents who want to support their young athletes, We'll explore nutrition tactics, psychological insights, and capture the spirit of team success.
Who has been a guest on Courtside Conversations
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Tyler
Michelle
Mark
Kelsey Poulter
Jessica the sports RD
Reach and audience
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
30
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Courtside Conversations
Guest appearances
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